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acrylic paintings, art by Lisa Brunetti, botanical paintings of the cloud forest, datura, ginger, heliconias, Timeout for art: Aim High

2009 Watercolor by Lisa Brunetti
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo

Datura-Ginger-Heliconia from Mindo Cloud Forest (Ecuador) Acrylic detal
There are times when, with sensitivity, I instruct my students, “Always stop before you think you are finished.” Sometimes we can overwork a painting, and in search of precision, we lose the spontaneity and freshness. It becomes overworked and heavy.
There are other times when I nudge my students to stick with the work a bit longer. I remind them, “The difference in an amateur and a professional, is that the professional takes it a few steps more and puts in a few more hours…’
This painting held its own with the background left stark white. The colors sing against the white background. Shadows could be added, and it would fool the eye, as it was already fooling mine! My friend Xavier often walks into the studio and says, “I can never tell what’s painted and what’s real!” and when this painting was flat on the magic-carpet floor, I often forgot that it was not part of the floor!
When a painting is 35 inches by 48, it’s taking a few more weeks to finish! After several moments of self doubt, I ‘soiled’ the white background with a medium value wash of dark blues and purples and greens. I knew there was no option to return to the original white background!!! I continued adding layers of paint… Continue reading